Sudan’s Hunger Crisis Deepens Amid Ongoing Conflict

Sudan's Hunger Crisis Deepens

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

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Sudan's Unfolding Catastrophe

The conflict in Sudan, which began in April 2023, has created a severe humanitarian crisis. Millions of people face hunger and displacement (reliefweb.int). As of April 2025, two years after the conflict started, the devastation and despair continue to spread (reliefweb.int). This war is considered the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Approximately 30 million people need aid, including 16 million children (mb.com.ph).

Sudan Humanitarian Needs

Snapshot of the crisis scale (millions of people), sized proportionally to the largest need.

People in need of humanitarian aid
30 Million
Bar lengths scale to 0–35M

People in need



30M

Children in need



16M

People displaced (IDPs)



12.4M

Refugees in neighboring countries



3.3M

0M10M20M30M35M

Counts shown in millions of people

Bars compare total people in need, children affected, internal displacement, and refugees across borders.
Source: mb.com.ph · globalissues.org

The brutal conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has claimed tens of thousands of lives (globalissues.org). More than 12.4 million people have been displaced, with over 3.3 million becoming refugees in neighboring countries (globalissues.org). The conflict erupted on April 15, 2023, leading to a significant increase in humanitarian needs, affecting 24.7 million people, up from 15.8 million (acaps.org). By February 2024, over 9 million people were displaced inside Sudan, and 1.7 million had fled to neighboring countries like Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Sudan (acaps.org). Intercommunal clashes, especially in Darfur and Kordofan, also contribute to these high displacement numbers (acaps.org).

Famine Spreads Across Sudan

Famine has been confirmed in at least 10 locations across Sudan (globalissues.org). This includes the Zamzam camp, which houses 400,000 displaced individuals (globalissues.org). An additional 17 areas are at risk of famine in the coming months (globalissues.org). Civilian deaths and mass displacement have been reported from Zamzam camp, near Al Fasher in North Darfur. This follows reports of groups linked to the Rapid Support Forces taking control (reliefweb.int).

Welthungerhilfe reports that 26 million people are starving after two years of war in Sudan (reliefweb.int). They are calling for humanitarian corridors to deliver aid (reliefweb.int). Welthungerhilfe provided aid to the Zamzam camp until January when the last access route was blocked (reliefweb.int). Attacks on the camp caused hundreds of deaths, including humanitarian aid workers (reliefweb.int). This highlights the extreme insecurity and vulnerability of the camp's residents.

Agriculture Under Attack

The conflict has severely impacted Sudan's agricultural sector. This has led to widespread food insecurity and economic decline (geopoliticalmonitor.com). Both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have used tactics such as blocking aid and raiding farms (geopoliticalmonitor.com). These actions further restrict access to food and disrupt food production and supply chains. Food insecurity affects at least a quarter of Sudan's population and is expected to worsen (acaps.org).

Economic Impact of the Sudan Conflict

GDP contracted sharply in 2023, with conflict tactics disrupting agriculture, trade, and household livelihoods.

Estimated GDP change (2023)
−40%
Scale shows −50% to 0% (larger bronze area = bigger contraction)

−50%−40%−30%−20%−10%0%

Contraction magnitude
0% reference

Sudan’s economy contracted by nearly 40% in 2023, driven by severe disruptions in agriculture and trade.



Both SAF and RSF used tactics like blocking aid and raiding farms, degrading food production and supply chains.



A deepening socioeconomic crisis features high inflation and currency depreciation, straining household purchasing power.

A sharp GDP decline alongside conflict-driven supply shocks and macro instability underscores Sudan’s worsening economic outlook.
Source: geopoliticalmonitor.com · acaps.org

The absence of state authority in many rural areas has allowed armed groups to prey on vulnerable populations (geopoliticalmonitor.com). This exacerbates the food crisis and the civil war (geopoliticalmonitor.com). Sudan's economy contracted by nearly 40% in 2023 (geopoliticalmonitor.com). This was largely due to disruptions in agriculture and trade (geopoliticalmonitor.com). The country is experiencing a socioeconomic crisis with high inflation rates and currency depreciation (acaps.org).

Humanitarian Aid Efforts

Humanitarian organizations are working to provide aid, but significant challenges remain. The World Food Programme (WFP) has supported over 13 million people with emergency food packages, cash-based assistance, hot meals, and specialized nutrition supplements since April 2023 (wfp.org). WFP assistance has helped reduce the risk of famine in six areas in Central Darfur and two areas in West Darfur (wfp.org). Nearly 1 million people in these areas have received regular food or cash aid since June 2024 (wfp.org).

WFP’s Humanitarian Support in Sudan

Scale of assistance and risk reduction since April 2023, with regular aid since June 2024.

People supported with emergency food, cash, and nutrition
13M+
Since April 2023

025%50%75%100% of 13M
Regular food or cash aid since June 2024: 1M people

Areas where famine risk has been reduced
8
Central Darfur (6) · West Darfur (2)

6


2



Central Darfur
West Darfur

People receiving regular food or cash aid
1M
Subset of the 13M supported

WFP reports 13M+ reached since April 2023, famine risk reduced in 8 areas, and 1M on regular assistance since June 2024.
Source: wfp.org

WFP also works on improving livelihoods and building resilience in the relatively safe eastern state of Sudan (wfp.org). This includes supporting farmers and community infrastructure (wfp.org). Despite these efforts, more than 100 people, including over 20 children, are feared dead (reliefweb.int). The deaths of at least nine humanitarians have been confirmed while on missions to support the most vulnerable (reliefweb.int). The 2025 Humanitarian Needs Response Plan aims to support nearly 20.9 million vulnerable individuals with life-saving aid, protection, and access to basic services (reliefweb.int). This plan seeks $4.2 billion, highlighting the urgent need for unprecedented international support (reliefweb.int).

The Human Cost of Conflict

The situation in western Sudan is described as "shocking" (dppa.un.org). Conditions in the capital, Khartoum, are "absolutely devastating" for people (dppa.un.org). The number of people needing humanitarian assistance jumped to 24.7 million following the conflict (acaps.org). This indicates widespread daily struggles. Over 9 million people have been displaced inside Sudan, and 1.7 million to neighboring countries (acaps.org). This illustrates the massive disruption to daily life. Additionally, 26 million people are starving after two years of war (reliefweb.int). This emphasizes the daily struggle for food.

The international community is urged to act. Welthungerhilfe emphasizes that "The international community cannot allow itself to keep standing by as this humanitarian disaster escalates" (reliefweb.int). This indicates a perceived lack of sufficient international action. The conflict continues to unfold, with severe humanitarian challenges persisting into 2025 (reliefweb.int). The ongoing violence and displacement mean that millions of Sudanese people face a daily struggle for survival. They lack basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. The destruction of infrastructure, including irrigation systems and farmlands, makes recovery incredibly difficult. Many families have lost their homes and livelihoods, forcing them to rely entirely on humanitarian aid, which is often insufficient or inaccessible due to ongoing fighting.

The Plight of Women and Girls in Conflict

The conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) offers a stark parallel to the challenges faced by women and girls in Sudan. In the DRC, accessing sexual and reproductive health services is exceptionally difficult, especially for women and girls (unfpa.org). Women and girls in conflict zones often face heightened risks of sexual violence and trauma (medicamondiale.org). Organizations like MSF have published alarming figures regarding the management of sexual violence cases in the DRC (msf.ch). They call for specific investment in medical, social, legal, and psychological support for victims (msf.ch). This includes long-term funding for medical training, post-violence kits, legal assistance, safe housing, and awareness campaigns to prevent stigmatization (msf.ch).

In the DRC, a significant number of women seeking refuge have experienced sexualized violence (medicamondiale.org). Sexual violence is not only an attack on the individual but also on the entire community (medicamondiale.org). Victims are often excluded from their communities and even their families (medicamondiale.org). Organizations like PAIF offer vocational training, such as tailoring or baking, to help women affected by violence regain socioeconomic independence (medicamondiale.org). Dr. Mukwege, through the Panzi Foundation, advocates for policies and reforms to end militia violence and ensure the voices of women and survivors are heard (panzifoundation.org). These efforts highlight the critical need for comprehensive support for women and girls in conflict zones, a need that is undoubtedly present in Sudan as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darius Spearman has been a professor of Black Studies at San Diego City College since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.